More diabetics are able to successfully carry pregnancies to term today, due to improved treatment of blood sugar before and during pregnancy. Yet some complications are still common in diabetic deliveries. Diabetic mothers need close attention...
No woman looks forward to giving birth to a 10-pound behemoth, but you have a family history of large babies and the future is looking bleak. You might be wondering if there are any dietary changes you can make to have an average-size baby;...
Many women begin to wonder early in their pregnancy if they may be carrying twins. Symptoms of a multiple pregnancy are the same as for a singleton, but may be stronger and noted much earlier in the pregnancy. The only way to diagnose a multiple...
It is common for women to wonder if they may be pregnant with twins early in their pregnancy. Women with a family history of twins or those who take certain fertility drugs may be at a higher risk for a twin pregnancy. According MayoClinic.com, a...
Gestational diabetes is a condition that affects some women during their pregnancy. It occurs when a woman who has never had diabetes develops high levels of blood sugar. According to the American Diabetes Association, about four percent of all...
Pregnancy is a happy, yet scary time for most expectant parents. However, many different complications can arise during the course of a pregnancy. Maintaining compliance with pre-natal care and doctor's visits will help to ensure that if a...
Approximately one in three adults in the United States is obese. Obesity is defined as a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher. If the Body Mass Index is 40 or more, the person is considered morbidly obese. Obesity has been identified as a risk...
Most fetal growth follows a prescribed pattern. But between 3 to 10 percent of fetuses develop intrauterine growth retardation, often referred to as IUGR, the University of California San Francisco reports. Babies with IUGR, who are smaller and...
Pregnant women with diabetes are more likely to have complications during pregnancy than women who aren't diabetic. Diabetes in pregnancy can be caused by the pregnancy (also known as gestational diabetes) or can be Type I (insulin dependent) or...
During your pregnancy you may experience some minor discomforts as your body changes and grows. Normal discomforts can include heartburn, backaches, feeling tired or ligamental pain in the abdomen. However, other signs can signal more...
Differences in patterns of growth relate to genetics, nutrition, hormones and environmental influences. The average birth weight of North American infants falls between 7 and 7 ½ pounds, according to Mary Mitchell in "Nutrition Across the...
Women who have diabetes have more complicated pregnancies than women who don't, and their babies are prone to problems after birth. Diabetes in pregnancy can be one of three types: insulin-dependent or Type 1 diabetes before pregnancy; Type 2...
Diabetes is a chronic disease that requires vigilance to control blood sugar levels and thus minimize complications of the disease. For a pregnant woman with diabetes, the same basic goal---excellent blood sugar control---is key. She should take...
Over the course of the nine months of pregnancy, your baby will grow and develop very rapidly. Each month brings about a new milestone that serves as one step closer to meeting your little one. Your obstetrician monitors your baby's growth, heart...
Obesity during pregnancy poses a risk to your health, as well as to that of your unborn baby. Results may include short-term or lifetime complications that can affect both mother and child. According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and...
Smoking is commonly known to be "bad for you." What is perhaps less known is that when a woman smokes during her pregnancy, she is increasing the risk for a variety of potentially tragic outcomes--both for herself and her unborn baby. According...
Pregnancy is an overwhelmingly exciting time. Each pregnancy is different, so the experience varies from one woman to the next, but in some cases the feelings and emotions are doubled because there are two babies to look forward to. Many women...
During your pregnancy, you need more vitamins and minerals than you do at other times. While your developing baby doesn't yet depend upon a large quantity of available calcium at just 5 weeks of gestational age, it's still a good idea to start...
An accurate gestational age gives your prenatal care provider a basis for measuring the baby's development and growth. He is better able to identify problems with your baby's development with this information. Using the date of the last period...
During your pregnancy, your baby will grow from a microscopic fertilized egg to an average of about 8 lb at birth. Fetal development follows predictable stages and milestones, with some individual variance. Throughout your pregnancy, your health...
The uterus, also referred to as the womb, is an organ in the female reproductive system. This upside-down pear-shaped organ sits in the lower portion of the pelvis. The function of the uterus is to house a developing baby prior to birth. Each...
